Changes leave The Link looking for new director
The Link, part of the Dixons Group, is looking for a marketing director following the appointment of its marketing chief Joe Garner as operations and development director at thr Dixons chain.
Managing director of The Link Nick Wood will oversee the chain’s marketing strategy until the position is filled.
Garner’s move follows a series of changes at the Dixons Group, including the appointment of the retailer’s previous operations director John Mewett as marketing director in place of Stuart Carson, who has moved to Canada (MW April 2). John Laidlaw, the group’s advertising director and a former brand and advertising director for Barclays Bank, also departed in March.
Garner oversaw a shift in advertising strategy for The Link, from pushing the brand as a mobile retailer to emphasising its customer service skills and knowledge. It was supported by a £5m advertising campaign, created by M&C Saatchi using the tagline “Powered by knowledge”.
Dixons Group, which has been suffering from increased competition and a slowdown in consumer spending, revealed in April that its profits for the year to May 3 were due to be in line with expections of between £280 to £300m, a range on a par with profits of £297m for the previous year.
The Dixons Group is one of a number of companies likely to be affected by a Competition Commission review of sales practices for warranties. This could result in recommendations for limits on staff sales bonuses, cooling off periods and the display of information on the pricing of rivals’ warranties alongside the retailer’s.
